?

　　“Princes Cordelia, Prince Augustus and the lovely Empress Veronica! This wedding is truly delightful, such a progressive move on your end, young princess.” He said to me followed by a booming laugh.

　　His laugh was contagious and yet his words made no sense. I just smiled instead of pressing the matter. “Thank you, Emperor Herman. I am honoured that you think that.”

　　“Congratulations on your marriages, Princess Cordelia.” Olivera said in a soft voice.

　　“Thank you. I hope you enjoy yourself to the fullest, Princess Olivera.” She looked up at me and smiled but her eyes said a different story.

　　“We are particularly one big family now!” the happy emperor spoke and it was evident that he was the only one who was overjoyed about this. “Cassian is like a son to me, so please take good care of him, Princess.”

　　“I’ll do my—”

　　“The princess would probably be too busy with her other husbands to favour one.” Olivera said, taking me by surprise. Although her voice was playful, her expression did not do her justice. She was not hiding the fact that Cassian chose to marry me instead of her.

　　I giggled. “That is true. After all, I would assume being an empress would take most of my time to be taking care of anyone, especially grown men.” I dared to say. Cassian stifled a laugh.

　　“Oh my, I meant no offence.” Herman started but I shook my head.

　　“I was merely joking, Your Majesty.” I said.

　　Herman looked at me for a moment before laughing. “You jokester!”

　　I then quickly excused myself as fatigue was overwhelming me. I could feel their eyes on me as I walked out of the grand hall to catch a breather. There by the entrance, Captain Evander and Rodrick were talking. Evander noticed me first and stood straighter before greeting me.

　　“Congratulations on your wedding, Princess Cordelia.”

　　“Thank you…”

　　“Did something happen? Why are you out here?” Rodrick asked.

　　“It was suffocating.” I said in a whisper but the both of them clearly heard me as they exchanged glances between each other.

　　“Do you want to take a walk? Rodrick, you should accompany the princess.” He said.

　　“No. It’s okay. I have to go back in or someone might start a rumour that I bailed on my own wedding.” I sighed. After asking the two if there were any problems with security just to start a conversation, I went back into the grand hall and called forth my faux persona. Smile and wave, smile and bow, keep smiling even when all I wanted to do was go to bed.

　　The thought of being made me think about tonight as it was expected to be my first night with one of the alphas. We had spoken about this too during our meetings but I never did tell them who I was going to meet with tonight. As I listened to some of Lady Marie’s entourage speak about irrelevant things, I could not help but to wonder who would be the right pick for my first time. Who would be gentle enough to not purposely hurt me and truthfully, I failed to make a decision.

　　*

　　I got out of the bathtub as Anne wrapped my robe around my wet body. My feet were aching from standing and walking so much but of course it was not as though I was able to use that as an excuse. Anne helped me get ready for tonight, picking out a silk midnight blue nightgown to wear.

　　“How are you feeling, princess?” she asked as she combed through my long hair.

　　“I thought the nerves from the wedding would have disappeared but now I’m just nervous about something else.”

　　Anne let out a hesitant giggle. “Well, surely you have decided on who you would spend your first night with?”

　　“…not really.”

　　“Princess…” she called out in horror. I was expected to be with one of them as it was tradition to spend your wedding night with your husband. I can just foresee the scandals that would come out if the maids or any of Lady Marie’s spies saw that I just stayed in my own room. And from the concern in Anne’s voice, she was probably going to say something to convince me.

　　“Does it hurt, Anne?” I questioned her.

　　Anne paused for a moment. “Well, during my first time it did hurt but only for a moment!” She quickly said.

　　“I see.” I then sighed, finally making my decision the moment Anne finished preparing me. I stood up from the chair and pulled on a matching silk robe. “Well then, I’m off to meet my husband.” I said with a stiff smile.

　　“Y-Yes, have a good night, Princess Cordelia.”

　　I purposely walked through the hallways where people could see me as though I needed eyewitnesses to confirm that I was out and heading to someone else’s room. Even though the implication was embarrassing, I needed to do this correctly unless I wanted Lady Marie to come for my throat about not being a proper wife.

　　When I reached the room, it took me a whole minute to mentally prepare myself before I lifted my hand and knocked on it twice. I waited and waited but there was no response. I knocked again, harder this time until I could hear footsteps approaching the door. I took a step back as the door was pulled open, his crystalline eyes widened when he looked at me before his expression shifted back to normal.

　　“What?” he asked.

　　“What do you mean what?” I frowned.

　　Augustus took a moment to make sense of the situation and thankfully I did not need to verbally tell him why I was here. His eyes then glanced around the area before letting out a soft sigh and reaching out to grab my hand. He tugged me into the room before pushing the door shut and pushing my back against the door.

　　I was stunned by his sudden actions, not expecting him to be this forward. I had picked him to be my first because he seemed to be the most timid compared the Cassian, the playboy or Isaiah, the one with a furious temper.

　　“W-Wait.” I stuttered as my free hand went to lightly push his chest away. He wore a loose fitting shirt and dark trousers. Even though the room was dark, the dim lantern on his bedside table provided enough light for me to see him properly.

　　“Did you not come here for this?” he asked, almost confused.

　　“…y-yes but can we um…go to the bed at least?”

　　Augustus pulled his hand away and walked towards the bed. I stood there for a moment, hating how fast my heart was beating. Was it due to fear? Anxiety? Anticipation? Either way, I could not just back away now that I was here. I watched as Augustus sat on the edge of the bed, watching me silently.

　　I took in a deep breath and walked towards him. My eyes then darted to the open book in his bedside table. “I’m sorry if I bothered you.” I told him, hoping that I could start a conversation with him which would at least help calm myself but he did not response.

　　Before I could look back at him, Augustus grabbed hold of my wrist and pulled me towards him. Everything happened so fast that I had not even realised how I was laying on the bed while he hovered above me. My hand was firmly pressed onto the bed with his strong hold.

　　I panicked when I saw him lowering his head to mine, face inching closer by the second. Instinctively I looked to the side to avoid his lips on mine but Augustus did not stop as his lips touched the side of my neck which I had exposed to him.

　　A harsh shiver ran through my body at how unnaturally cold his lips were. My free hand reacted by reaching out to grab a fistful of his shirt, wanting to push him away but then what? If I kept denying him, he would probably just get frustrated.

　　“I can feel your heightened pulse. Are you scared?” He spoke softly as I could feel his tender lips moving against my pulse point. I lightly shook my head. He exhaled before planting another kiss on my neck.? “That’s not very convincing. But, no matter. Tell me, why did you pick me first?” he asked.

　　“What?” I furrowed my brows over his strange question.

　　He lifted his face away from my neck to look down at me. “I had deduced that you would pick Cassian to be your first since he is rather…experienced in this department and also the both of you had gotten accidentally intimate during your debutante party. So why are you here instead?”

　　I blinked at him, speechless at both his statement as well as his beauty. His long silver hair was braided loosely to the side as it flowed down his shoulders. His grey eyes seemed to be darker under this light, pupils slightly dilated from the lack of light.

　　“Answer me now or I won’t be gentle with you.” He warned.